Windswept (The Airborne Saga) (7 page)

             
“You have a habit of not telling me things lately.” Avery dove in without fear. This made Leela snap her head up and glare.

             
“Oh look who is talking,” she snipped. “I always figured you were going to move in with Mason. I mean, you certainly spent enough time over there.”

             
“Do you not want me to go?” Avery asked pointedly.

             
Leela sighed overdramatically. The question unfairly fenced Leela in, but she still answered anyways.

             
“I’m worried about you going. But if I were you, I’d probably go. I just want you to hold onto your real life too, Avery. Your high school, your college, your dreams. I feel like you’re not even my friend anymore.”

             
The last sentence hurt enough that Avery grimaced at the dirt. Surely she spent more time with Mason, and surely Leela and she had fights throughout the years, but Leela still was her only best friend. The fact that the girl would now doubt that made the guilt heavy enough to suffocate. Avery even fanned at her throat, though it was her eyes that needed to dry out. It took her a long moment to answer.

             
“You were right. This is our last week in high school. I’m glad you made me come out.” They had trailed away from the groups. Still within the camp fires view though, they kept their voices low.

             
“Me? Right?” Leela’s eyebrows disappeared underneath her bangs. Avery giving in so quickly apparently made Leela’s head spin.

             
“I mean about me being a little bit harpie obsessed. I know it sounds crass, even stupid on my part, but I feel like I have to do this. There was never any hesitation after he asked me. You of all people believe in that destiny stuff. Maybe this was meant to happen. I feel like it.” Her own speech, though true, bordered on making her uncomfortable. Avery took a long swig hoping the gross liquid would make a difference.

             
“How did that make me right?” Leela finally asked slowly.

             
“About keeping some of my human life too. I’m going to look at colleges in California. Stay by my brother. Stay in touch with my friends. It’s a must. If I’m moving there, I’ll tell him it’s a requirement. And Nevada isn’t terribly far away. You and I are going to be fine. We’re going to be friends. And we’re going to have each other’s backs.” This thing was threatening to get very sentimental very quickly.

             
Avery scanned the area, but it only made it worse. This was the last high school party. The last big she-bang with her best friend. And the last time she’d really be living the human life. Just because moving in with Mason would be worth it, didn’t mean she wasn’t allowed to miss some things right?

             
“Good.” Leela must have been thinking along the same lines because her voice got weaker. She cleared her throat futilely and added a question. “I wish I had some of your nerve. I’m just moving to Nevada. You’re moving to the harpie capitol. So how are you so prepared to go?”

             
“I mean, I’m not.” Avery laughed with her confession. “I’m going. For sure. But I’m absolutely terrified.”

             
“Seriously?” Leela let out a giggle too, even if the subject was not necessarily funny.

             
“Frikkin’ terrified.” Avery kept emphasizing. Just because Mason was there, she’d follow. But the moving in with the boyfriend thing? Not ideal.

             
“That’s awesome. I’m glad I’m not the only one who is afraid. But warn Mason I’m coming for him if he’s up to anything.” Leela’s phone buzzed and the girl’s face dropped to the screen. Avery pitched the solo cup towards the fire, suddenly feeling more energized than ever. It was only when Leela’s face came back up that the energy turned into fear.             

             
“What’s wrong?”

             
“I had the news alerts set up to my phone” —Leela waved the Android in the air— “there’s  been another harpie attack.”

             
“Are you sure? Where?”

             
“Thirty miles. Avery, they’re on their way back. You need to call Mason now!”

             
Leela herded her back to the school. The shoes suddenly seemed like a huge mistake. Avery stumbled violently three times before they even reached the stairs. Avery jerked backwards abruptly and shoved Leela towards the shadows. Just as Avery had attempted to climb the steps, a faculty member named Morrison came clomping down the other side. Morrison was a sure sign the party was about to be busted, and they couldn’t be caught outside with it.

             
Avery let out a breath, an agonizing extra few minutes as they waited for the area to clear. It’d have been worth it to be caught, as they would have been ushered back to their room, but not if a thirty minute lecture would get in her way.

             
Adalyn hadn’t taken a swing at killing Avery the last time she was here, but the second time could be the charm. And then there was the concern that Adalyn wasn’t alone. Leela held the phone out for both of them to see the story as they waited. The screen’s low light made the images blurry but Leela could whisper the text.

             
“It was an entire group of hunters this time. They were chasing prey, or what they thought was prey. Avery, they had guns and didn’t even stand a chance! What are you going to do if Mason doesn’t answer?”

             
“What I always do. Survive,” Avery said with a whole lot more confidence than she felt.

             
She clenched her left fist, but the Willow tattoo was still graying and uncomfortable. What power it had left, Avery knew she shouldn’t bank on. She needed time. The stairs had finally cleared and the two hurried up them with practiced accuracy. Avery had left her cell in the room. She had figured that if she held it at the party, she’d have been checking it too much and negate the point of going. Now it sat at the end of her bed, lit with a message. Avery didn’t look for the caller. She just smashed in redial. This time the familiar voice on the other line made her heart actually ache.

             
“Thanks for taking so long!” Avery snapped against her better judgment.

             
“I’m sorry. I just now got your message. And you beat me to calling you back.”

             
“One call in how many weeks?” Yes, now was definitely the time for this argument Avery’s illogical brain ruled.

             
“Avery, I didn’t know you had been trying to reach me. Stern was in charge of keeping tabs on you. I didn’t know and I’m sorry, but it’s been rough here. I’m not trying to ignore you, things are hectic and no one in the council has been making it any easier. I had to sneak off just to call you now.”

             
She softened a bit.

             
“Yeah okay,” she said. “I hope that doesn’t last forever because I’ve been getting visitors here.”

             
“Visitors?” Mason parroted, his voice going quieter.

             
“Adalyn to be exact. Mason, I think she nearly killed the harpie you sent me here with. The police never found his body, but Leela thinks she’s just covering her tracks.”

             
She heard him take in a loud breath before a moment of silence. Avery couldn’t imagine what it was like to have an ex-fiancé that you never seemed to be able to get away from.

             
“Damnit. I’m coming for you.  Stay inside, stay away from her.”

             
“That was the goal,” she said, but couldn’t resist. Something about the whole Adalyn incident had been plaguing her. She hadn’t beaten herself up. Mason’s solider had helped Adalyn reach her, and Adalyn had the chance to kill Avery.  “Do you know what’s going on with her? There have been so many things happening…”

             
“Like what?” he quizzed immediately.

             
“Like the fact that there have been harpie attacks in Alaska, and all circling my school. The attacks are marking out Adalyn’s path. I don’t think she’s alone.” The ideas began spilling from her before she could stop them. Avery would have been lying if she’d said the obscure event hadn’t stayed in her head.

             
“You mean she’s being followed?” Mason interrupted.

             
“I don’t know. It would make sense. She was really beat up. She ran off and I know she wasn’t afraid of me. Plus, Leela’s been tracking the whole thing and the harpie attacks going on all over the Alaska coast are too big for one person. Tell me you know what’s going on?”

             
“Avery, you’re wrong. You’d be dumb to listen to her and even dumber to allow Adalyn a shot at you again. People still think you can fight with the magic. Don’t correct them. I wish I could be there sooner but I am going to be there as quickly as I can.”

             
She pressed her lips together. That definitely wasn’t the response she’d expected nor wanted. The tattling curiosity wasn’t going to leave her that easily. It apparently left Mason though.

             
“I’m going to come get you myself. Sit tight. Please stay out of trouble. I have to go.”

             
The line went dead, and he was gone.

Six

              “Calm down.” Avery hissed even though she didn’t do much to hide the stress in her voice either. She slid the phone into the billows of her black gown and away from Leela’s prying eyes. The girl hummed unhappily but gave up.

             
“I have nothing to panic about. I’ve waited twelve years for this moment.” Leela set her eyes on the world in front of them. One of the longest green plains at the school had been turned into a graduation platform draped with the silver and gold school colors. Their auditorium may have been big enough to fill the students and their families but the outdoors made it less crowded. Plus, the beautiful weather, and the back drop of the mountains and brick spires of Mayweather, added to the ambiance.

             
But as they shuffled to find their designated seats in the rows before the platform, Avery knew they had quite a bit to worry about. Mason had told her he was on his way, texting her with updates, and she’d informed him not to bust in on the event. Graduation day had enough stress. She wobbled in her heels and her black hat refused to fit. She fiddled with the gold tassel and stole a glance backwards. Somewhere in the audience were her mother and brother. Their reunion earlier had been wonderful but short lived, for the ceremony was soon to start.